The Malaysian government has agreed to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which mysteriously disappeared 10 years ago with 239 passengers aboard. In one of aviation’s greatest unsolved mysteries, the Boeing 777 vanished on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Since then, countless families have been left in anguish, yearning for answers.
On Friday, Malaysia’s Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, announced that the Cabinet had approved in principle a $70 million agreement with U.S.-based marine exploration firm Ocean Infinity to continue the search for the missing aircraft. The deal is based on a “no find, no fee” arrangement, meaning Ocean Infinity will only be compensated if the wreckage is located.
Minister Loke expressed optimism over the new search efforts, stating, “We hope this time will be positive.” He added, “Finding the wreckage will give closure to the families of those on board.” The search will target a 15,000 square kilometer area of the southern Indian Ocean, guided by new data that the government deems “credible.”
Despite the approval, negotiations over the final terms of the deal are still ongoing, with an agreement expected to be finalized early next year. This new search follows a previous unsuccessful attempt by Ocean Infinity in 2018 under similar terms. That search, lasting three months, ended without results. Before that, a two-year multinational search costing $150 million was conducted by Malaysia, Australia, and China, but no definitive clues were found, leading officials to state that the search would only resume “should credible new evidence emerge.”
The announcement of the resumed search was met with relief and mixed emotions by the families of those lost on MH370. Jacquita Gonzales, whose husband Patrick Gomes was the inflight supervisor on MH370, expressed her gratitude, calling it “the best Christmas present ever.” She shared her feelings with The New Straits Times, saying, “I am so happy for the news… It feels like the best Christmas present ever.” However, she also acknowledged the pain the families have endured, with the uncertainty causing deep emotional strain.
Intan Maizura Othaman, who lost her husband, Mohd Hazrin Mohamed Hasnan, a cabin crew member, reflected on the difficult journey. “This announcement stirs mixed emotions – hope, gratitude, and sorrow. After nearly 11 years, the uncertainty and pain of not having answers have been incredibly difficult for us,” she told The New Straits Times.
Jiang Hui, whose mother was among the passengers, called for a more inclusive approach, urging the Malaysian government to allow more players to contribute to the search. Speaking to Reuters, he said, “The Malaysian government must have a more open approach to the search to allow more players to take part.”
The mystery surrounding Flight MH370 deepened when the plane lost communication with air traffic control less than an hour after takeoff and deviated from its planned flight path. Despite numerous theories about the plane’s disappearance—ranging from deliberate pilot actions to foreign military involvement—investigators have generally agreed that the aircraft crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. However, the cause remains unknown.
Pieces of debris believed to be from the plane have washed up on shores in the Indian Ocean over the years, offering small clues but no definitive answers. In 2018, an investigation revealed that the plane’s controls were likely deliberately manipulated to veer off course, but investigators could not determine who was responsible. As officials have reiterated, “the answer can only be conclusive if the wreckage is found.”
In a statement, Ocean Infinity’s CEO, Oliver Plunkett, welcomed the decision to continue the search, calling it “great news.” He added, “We look forward to sharing further updates in the new year once we’ve finalized the details and the team gets ready to go.”
As the search resumes, many hold onto hope that the long-awaited discovery of the wreckage will provide the closure that families have desperately sought for nearly a decade.
